Nicholls' Felder hopes his name is called during draft

Thursday

When the 2012 NFL Draft begins tonight, draft prospects from across the country will watch to see if their names are called some time during the three-day event.

When the 2012 NFL Draft begins tonight, draft prospects from across the country will watch to see if their names are called some time during the three-day event. There will be a lot at stake for the prospects. Only 253 players will get selected during one of the draft's seven rounds.Nicholls State cornerback Bobby Felder is hoping he will be in that number. Felder, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound prospect from McComb, Miss., said all he wants is an opportunity to get drafted and show what he can do."It's a blessing just to be able to be at this point to have the opportunity to possibly get my name called in the draft," Felder said. "I thank the Lord every day for the opportunity. I'm just very thankful for everything Nicholls has done for me, and I hope I get my name called."Felder is coming off a standout senior season at Nicholls where he earned first-team All-Southland Conference and second-team All-Louisiana honors as a cornerback.Playing against opposing team's best receivers, Felder recorded 49 tackles (39 solo) in his senior season, forced two fumbles and blocking three kicks. He left Nicholls tied for fourth on the all-time career interception list with 12.Now after an offseason of intense training, Felder is ready for the chance to take his talents to the next level. "It's been a constant grind these past three or four months, just trying to get my body right," Felder said. "It has been a lot of conditioning, speed work and practice. I've also been enjoying the process and not trying to get stressed out. I'm enjoying it so I can be ready for the opportunity when it comes my way."Local NFL analyst Mike Detillier said Felder could be a seventh-round selection, but he believes the Nicholls standout will likely be a free-agent prospect. New England, Buffalo, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Atlanta and Dallas are teams that have shown interest in Felder. "Most teams are looking at him at free-safety rather than cornerback," Detillier said. "He has good size, good range, plays the ball well in flight and can cover a lot of area. He also brings some special teams skills to the table, and that's really good."Even though he didn't play a lot of safety at Nicholls, Felder said he is confident in his abilities to play both positions in the NFL if needed. "I'm ready for whatever challenge they bring," Felder said. "I just want to be on the field and play ball. Whatever they want, I can play both corner and safety."Nicholls coach Charlie Stubbs said he believes Felder has all the mental and physical tools to become a successful in the NFL. "I'm excited about Bobby," Stubbs said. "He was a real integral part of the team in my two years here. He made plays. He always had a smile on his face. He had a good work ethic. He wasn't a real vocal guy, but he led by his play."If drafted, Felder will join a recent line of former Colonels defensive backs to get drafted, including Chris Thompson (2004), Kareem Moore (2008) and Lardarius Webb (2009). Felder said he wants to follow in those players' footsteps. "Nicholls is a small school, but we do have some tradition, and I'm looking forward to continuing that tradition on and representing Nicholls in the NFL," he said.Detillier said the success of Webb with the Baltimore Ravens and Moore with the Washington Redskins helps Felder's chances of getting drafted. "If you are an area scout, you recognized the fact that Nicholls has produced Kareem and Lardarius, so you want to go back and see if there is another one," Detillier said. "(Bobby) seemed to be a guy extremely gifted but maybe not the most motivated. You saw him become a much more focused player this year, and it really showed out on the field. On a bad football team, he was really the standout guy."Webb, who signed a six-year extension with Baltimore earlier this month, said he has had several conversations with Felder on what to expect during the draft, and he believes Felder would be a great addition for any team. "(Bobby) can play in the league," Webb said. "He's a ball-hawk, and he's a hitter. I really do believe if a team gives him a shot, then he's going to get it. He has to stay working. It never stops. Everything is just now beginning. His career is just beginning, so he has to keep working."Felder said he knows anything can happen during the draft, including the chance of not getting picked at all.But he is ready for anything that happens. "In the NFL draft, you never know where you're going to go until that day comes," he said. "Until they call your name, teams can tell you one thing, and they can do another. I have no idea what's going to happen. I'm just letting the Lord guide me through this process, and I believe I'll be put in the best possible situation I could be put in."

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